Cars have several peripheral devices (also called accessories) which allow their internal combustion engines to function properly. Some of the main accessories include a power steering pump, alternator, air conditioning compressor, and water pump. However, these devices cannot function properly without the help of a serpentine belt. This one long continuous belt is the force that drives … Read more
Gasoline-powered vehicles use a complex system to get moving. Problems with fuel or air delivery, exhaust emission, or anything in between can be the reason your car is sluggish or won’t accelerate. A combustion engine requires a specific ratio of air to fuel to be in each cylinder at the right time, followed by a … Read more
An internal combustion engine needs four things to run: air, fuel, spark, and compression. These elements must also be introduced into the combustion chamber at exactly the right time. If the compression ends up being too low in any of the cylinders, then your vehicle will not be able to drive normally. You will likely … Read more
The fuel pressure regulator is a component found within the internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The job of the fuel pressure regulator is just how it sounds. It regulates the fuel pressure of the engine system by changing the pressure whenever necessary. It features a mechanical diaphragm that is operated by a vacuum to … Read more
When a car has a misfire, it means that internal combustion in the cylinder did not finish completely. The car will still be able to run and you’ll be able to drive it, but you’ll start to notice the engine jerking a lot. This could be followed by exhaust smoke coming out of the tailpipe, … Read more
The internal combustion engine is comprised of several rotating parts and components. Some of these components rub against each other and create friction. Anytime you have metal parts creating friction, there is going to be a lot of heat generated in the process. The engine depends on coolant and oil to keep its components cooled … Read more
If you’re wondering what a secondary air injection pump is, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll go over the purpose of the secondary are pump as well as the symptoms you should watch for that indicate the pump is failing. What Does a Secondary Air Pump Do? The secondary air injection pump (also referred … Read more
The timing chain is an important component because it keeps the camshaft and crankshaft connected and synchronized as they rotate. If you’ve ever seen a bicycle chain before, the timing chain looks very similar. There are several pulleys and gears which provide power to the camshaft, crankshaft, and other mechanical components of the system. The … Read more
It should be pretty obvious that water in fuel is a significant problem. How would you know if someone put water in your gas tank? How do you know if you received a tank of bad gas? Or if there’s water in diesel fuel? We’ll answer these questions (and a few more) in this article. … Read more
While checking your oil have you ever wondered what actually is under that engine cover? What do those parts do? How does an engine really work? Underneath that beautiful (in some cases) engine cover lies a wonderful piece of engineering. The modern-day automotive engine is capable of some wonderful feats. Let’s pull back the curtain … Read more